20 Days Later...

I can't believe it has taken me this long to update!  Yikes!!!  I have some fun to show you, though!

First, my finish of B is for Boy.  Sorry for the wrinkles, but I didn't want to forget to take the picture!

It took me longer than I thought it would, but actually no longer than I had scheduled it in my book... so that's good!

OH!  Before I forget, does anyone have the Prairie Schooler leaflet called Old McDonald's Farm that they would consider borrowing me?  I want to stitch the cow as a Christmas ornament for my son who works on a farm.  I promise I'd stitch it quick and get it back to you!

OK...  back to updates!  I was able to put in a few stitches on The BookStore which I'm stitching for my dd for Christmas or her birthday.  You can also see some of my new toys in the picture.  I picked up the Vera Bradley lanyard on my Anniversary weekend.  It is FANTASTIC for holding my scissors!!

This sweet little hedgie is my new stitching friend.  My dd got him for me for Mother's Day, but I don't remember showing him before.  He's a magnet and holds my needles like a pro.  I.Love.This.  And my husband does, too, cuz now I don't stick the needles in the arm of the chair that I'm working in and they don't get stuck in his hand when he leans on the arm of the chair to kiss me.

I saw this Shepherd's Bush kit done and framed while I was in my LNS on my Anniversary weekend, and it was so pretty that I decided it would be my stitching treat for the weekend.  I'm going to throw it into my rotation soon, cuz it's on linen and I'll only be able to stitch on it for a few minutes at a time.  I'm not going to have it say My Mom's Garden - just Mom's Garden - and I'll use my children's initials instead of my brothers' and sisters'.

One more little critter jumped into my pile at the store and asked to come home with me.  When I was stitching at the dentist office a while back I was wishing for a needle minder that I could attach to my fabric, since my hedgie had to stay home.  I think this will do the trick nicely!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll try to catch up with you all soon!

Tricia

Blessings!

A Slow Start

It's been a slow start on B is for Boy this past 10 days, but little by little he's coming together.  I, of course, am already looking ahead to the next project on my list. :-)  Isn't that the way it goes!  I have two projects that I would really like to have finished before Christmas.  One is part of my crazy 15 and one isn't, but it will go in the rotation soon. :-)  Isn't cross stitch fun???

Speaking of FUN - the winner of my lots and lots of followers giveaway is...

LYNN

Congratulations!!  I'll be getting in touch for your mailing address!

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such sweet comments.

Have a blessed day!

Tricia

May-bee

  

I just found this adorable blog and giveaway!  Check it out here!!

I'm not getting much stitching done this week, but I'll be back in a couple days with my giveaway winner and an update!

Blessings!

Don't Forget!

Be sure to scroll down a post and enter for my blogoversary giveaway, and then run over to Jennifer's and sign up for hers, too!

I started "B is for Boy" last night - but just for a few minutes.  I'd been a busy girl all day and could only stitch for a few minutes before it was time for sleep.  I plan to stitch for awhile again today, and hopefully I'll have a nice chunk done by the weekend.

Blessings!

Tricia

Time for an Update and a Giveaway!

Hello friends!  It's been Christmas ornament week at my house, I think!  First, I received this adorable LHN ornament from Angela as my Pay It Forward gift.  I love it!  It's the first cross stitch ornament I've gotten that was finished this way and it is so cute!!!  I'm inspired to try one myself if I can get up the courage!

Thursday through Saturday I was at a homeschool show for my GraceWorks business.  The attendance was down this year - probably because it was held on Memorial Day weekend - but I had a lot of time to stitch.  I had pulled out this adorable Snowy Pines ornament to take along, and I was able to finish it yesterday.  It isn't one of my Crazy 15, but it was in this year's binder, so I'm thrilled to have had a chance to finish it!

Since my dear husband is off of work today and napping in the chair in the living room, I really didn't want to do anything too noisy (like cleaning the kitchen!) and wake him up, so I pulled out this ornament from the 2010 JCS Ornament Edition to finish up.  This one was one of my 15 and I've put in a few stitches here and there, so I really just had some snow, the berries and the branches to do.  I opted out of putting the berry in his mouth and putting the snow in the sky, so I'm calling this one finished, too. :-)

On June 1st I'll start on "B is for Boy" from the last JCS magazine, but for today and tomorrow I'll probably just work on Morning Lake or my Little Shepherd... we'll see!

Now on to the fun part!  The giveaway for my 101 followers! :-)  I am really amazed at how many of you have stopped by to encourage me in my stitching.  What fun to get to share with you all!  So - here's the rules.  Since this particular giveaway is to honor my followers, you either need to be or become a follower, and you need to comment on this post that you are interested in being put in the drawing.  That's it! :-)

The winner will get the following...

A Banner Year Kit - Winter - Lizzie Kate
(Includes chart, fabric and adorable cardinal button)

Blackbird Designs Rose Garden, Pink Lugana Fabric,  Really Yummy colored Thread!

And one of the cool binders I use to organize my stash.
You'll have the binder AND projects to start to fill it!!

So there you go!  I'll be drawing the winner on Friday, June 10th.  Thanks for coming along on my cross-stitch journey!!

Blessings!

A Little Shepherd

Not much to show on the stitching front this week.  I just couldn't seem to concentrate - probably because I've been a busy beaver getting everything ready for the GraceWorks show at the end of the week.  I'm so excited to talk to the ladies and encourage them in their time and home management and walk with the Lord!!

I pulled out one of my challenge pieces to work on for the week - the Shepherd Boy from an old Stoney Creek leaflet.  Of course, after I did the outlining around his face, I realized that I left out a line.  sigh.  I almost threw it all away, but I think I can salvage it, and it is so sweet that I really want to finish it!!

I see that I've hit 100 followers.  AMAZING!  I'll be swamped for most of the week,  but I'll be gathering some goodies for a giveaway, so keep in touch!! :)

Blessings!

The Winner

Hello all!

I have my husband's permission to rest and stitch today. Sounds lovely!  But before I get started I wanted to share that I drew a winner of the Littles Bunny and it will be heading off to live with Sally.  Maybe she'll pass it on when she's done! :-)

It looks like I'm 3 short of 100 followers, so I'll be looking around for some fun things for another giveaway.  Stay tuned!

Have a blessed day!

Hello Friends!

Finally a stitching update!  I'm still struggling a little with some muscle pain/weakness in my back and shoulders from the accident, so my stitching has been slower than usual, but I did get Mouse's PIF in the mail...

 I chose a sweet "Littles" chart from Bent Creek to stitch for her and then stitched it over one, (what was I thinking?) so the finished product turned out to be about 1" square.  What on earth was I going to do with it???  I decided to make a teeny tiny scissors fob to match some teeny tiny scissors.  It turned out cute if you don't look too hard at my finishing, LOL!!

I'll be happy to pass along the chart if anyone is interested!  I did play with the colors and design a bit, so the actual chart looks a little different.  You can see it on Daffycat's blog here.  If more than one person is interested I'll draw a name on Wednesday. :)

I decided to switch around my rotation a bit and work on another one of my challenge pieces - "Thank God, Trust God" from a Cross Country Stitching Magazine.  I've changed all the colors, and I think I like it... but I'm still not sure.  You can decide! :)  Those are birds and birdhouses, in case you can't quite tell.  LOL!

I'm tempted to start CCN's Bookstore this week, but I'm not sure I have fabric for it.  I'm working on preparing for a Homeschool show that I'll be vending at for my GraceWorks business, so I'll be busy and distracted these next two weeks, so I actually may just pick up whichever of the projects in my binders call my attention when I have time to sit and stitch.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!

A Giveaway of Note!

Hi friends!

There's a giveaway over at the Cranberry Samplings blog that you don't want to miss!  Head on over!

I didn't stitch much last week after the accident, but I was able to finish "G is for Girl", which was a nice way to end the month of April.  Sorry the picture is so dark, but I took it at night so I wouldn't forget.  It will be on its way to its new owner shortly!   I started my PIF for Mouse yesterday, so no pictures of that, but next week I'll start "B is for Boy" so I should have something to show you then!!

Blessings!

Yesterday

Hello friends!  Yesterday was an interesting day around here!  Coming home from town on the highway, I was hit by a car coming out of the side road, who apparently didn't see me.  The bumper on the ground was from his vehicle... it had been embedded in my door when I stopped.

The miraculous thing is that I wasn't hurt... other than a sore back and shoulder.   And, as far as I know, he was ok as well.  It was truly a blessing that he hit the van right in the post of the door frame, rather than squarely in the door itself.  Praise the Lord!

I have tried to cross stitch a little on G is for Girl today, but I can't bend over my work for too long at the moment.  That's ok.  15 minutes here and there will make a lot of progress!  Here's where I am presently...

My weekend project "Morning Lake" is coming along nicely, too!

Thanks for stopping by!  I've been doing a lot of blog visiting but not a lot of commenting lately.  Everyone does such nice work, I just don't seem to have enough hours in my day to admire it all!

Have a blessed day!

JCS Magazines

Hi again!

I had a question from Francoise about the Just Cross Stitch pattern for G is for Girl.  It's in the March/April edition from this year, and there is a coordinating pattern "B is for Boy" in the current edition (May/June)

Hope that helps!

Traveling Stash Winner!

Good Morning!  I got quite a bit done on my Morning Lake kit over the weekend.  I was excited to start to see the boat and its reflection on the water.  I almost hated to put it down, so I think I'll work on it again this weekend.

In the meantime, I've been having fun stitching on CCN's G is for Girl that was in the JCS magazine.   What a fun little tea party scene!!

But, of course, the reason you *really* came, was to see where the Traveling Stash would end up!  And the winner is.....

DJ!!


Be sure to email me with your address, DJ!  I'll get it out right away!!


Blessings!

The Traveling Stash

 Hello friends!  I have lots and lots to share today, so be sure to read / scroll *all the way to the end* of the post so you don't miss anything! :-)

Here's my finished Roly Poly bear, all ready to be washed and sent out to be made into a quilt.  I finished it a few days before I expected, so I'm going to stitch on Day One from my Crazy 15 today through Saturday.  Sunday I'll start working on G is for Girl.  Too fun!

Day One - Dimensions "Morning Lake"

 Want to see some more gorgeousness?  This isn't quite finished, but it is DD #2's project at the moment. It's from a Stoney Creek magazine from last year.  SO pretty!!

Remember how I was doing some organizing in the last post?  Well, I did a little more.  I looked through each of the projects that I put into my binders and wrote down what I needed for them, then I roughly figured how many days or weeks each project would take.  I figured low in my estimate of stitches per week, so I know that it may not take me as long as I'm figuring, but if it did, I have enough in my three binders, plus the three kits that my dh got me for Christmas, to keep me stitching for two and a half years!  That being said, I have a few things I'd like to offer for sale, and then.... if you page down... I'd like to start a Traveling Stash Box.

First, the "for sale" items.  I prefer paypal, and you can email me at tjtrax at yahoo dot com, if you're interested.  Prices include shipping.

Bent Creek Red Thread Border Pack with Snaps and Buttons (Red Hearts & Stars) and First Pattern of the series  Retail  $15.00 - Asking $5.00

CCN Pumpkin Cottage - Retail $8 - Asking $4
sold

LHN - Blessed are the Meek (Chart Only) - $3
sold

OK!  On to the fun stuff!  I've been so blessed to have received a number of blog candies in the past six months or so, and I've pulled things from each and added them to my stash of threads, fabrics, patterns, scissors, etc.  But after paring down my stash to fit in my binders, I find that there are many lovely stitching things that I just know I won't be using in the next year or two and I'd love to pass them on.  So, here's what I've done.  I'm going to start a "Traveling Stash Box" (or Flat Rate Envelope... we'll see!).  I'm going to fill it with the things you see below...  There are some patterns (LHN, Shakespeare's Peddler, Trilogy, Lizzie Kate...), threads, linen, buttons.... a little of everything.  Well, except scissors.  I didn't seem to be able to part with any of my scissors!  The rule is that when you get the Traveling Stash, you go through and take what you'd like.  Then you add to the box as many things as you've taken out... plus some extra, if you'd like, and then offer it on your blog.   And on and on it goes. :-)  If you're interested, just mention it in your comment and I'll draw a name next Wednesday.

BTW, if you see anything that I won in your blog candy in my Traveling Stash pile, please don't be offended!  Rest assured that I have treats tucked away from each stitching package that I've ever received!! :-)  I just thought this would be a fun way to share my joy and your generosity with others !!

Don't forget that it is Friday Night Sew In tomorrow!  I know I'll be stitching, although I'm not sure I'll get the sewing machine pulled out.  We'll see!

Happy Stitching!

Fun Organizational Find!

Our local WalMart store is under construction to become a Super WalMart, so every few days there  are different things added to the clearance aisle.  Well, the other day when I went to look at reading glasses (Quick rabbit trail...  Vera Bradley had 50% off the reading glasses that I've been using to stitch with, and I *LOVE* them, but I couldn't remember what magnification they were, so I had to go try some cheap ones on a WalMart to see which Vera Bradley ones to order.  I got them today and I wish I'd gotten two pairs while they were on sale.  They are SO nice to stitch with and they look nice, too!  ** End of Rabbit Trail! ☺)

ANYWAY... down the clearance aisle, I found these folders.  They have a number of plastic pockets, with attached covered plastic pockets.  **Lightbulb Moment ** These would be perfect for my pile of "I want to do this next" patterns that I've been accumulating - along with the rest of my 15 Crazy Challenge pieces.

Here are a couple of my crazy challenge starts, waiting to be finished.  The floss bobbins for each of these are in my large floss case, but the fabric and patterns are here.

The front pocket isn't see through, so I put magazines or books in those...  The opposite side shows my LK Snowman all kitted up, with the floss in the attached little pocket.

Here's a couple of my newest acquisitions.  Cecilia's Sampler was having a 25% off sale the other day and I picked up Bunny Hop with the CC threads I needed, and this Precious Moments book that I'll use for Love Quilt or Angel Quilt squares.

So, after filling my binders, I have how many patterns that I want to stitch?  Ummmm.... let's just say that I have *enough*.  I really don't need more than 30 things calling to me at one time!!  But I know that I do have a few more patterns coming that are "must do's", so I need to keep stitching to make room for them (and whatever giveaways I might win...!) in my binders.   In the meantime, I'm planning on focusing any stitching related shopping that I do for the next few months around kitting up what is in my binders - fabric, overdyed threads, etc., and, of course, a few fun extras like scissors, q-snaps, needles, thread sorters, etc.... :-)  No patterns unless I win them or am given them ... (Anyone having a giveaway??? LOL!)  Oh - and by the way - my big kits aren't in the binders - I have them in some huge (9x12??) plastic envelopes that snap shut that I found at our local Sentry Food store for $1 each. :-)

Since I had to pare down my stash some to settle on 30-some projects, I'm planning a special kind of giveaway in the next week or so. Keep your eyes peeled.  This will be a fun one!

On the stitching front, here's the progress on my bear and my new start, Country Cottage Needleworks "G is for Girl" pattern that was in the JCS magazine.  I'm thoroughly enjoying that one - there's no backstitching and no 3/4 stitches. :-)  I need to finish the bear next week, though.  Then I'll open my binder and pull another of my Crazy Starts to work on! :-)

Happy Stitching~

Some Progress and a Question

Here's my progress for the week on my teddy bear.  I got quite a bit done, but by last night I just couldn't work on it any more, so I pulled out this challenge piece from the Cross Country Stitching magazine.  It's charted with the words, "Plant a Garden, Feed the Bunnies", but it's so sweet as it is, that I think I'm going to call it finished.  Plus then I can cross one more off my list! :-)

Here's a question - my dear husband has said that I could order the DMC Bamboo Bobbin Cabinet, if I would like, with some of our tax return money.  He thinks it's a tool box. :-)  But it's so expensive, I don't know if it's worth it.  Does any one have one?  Is it good quality?  I'd hate to get something that is cheaply built if I spend that much money.

Well, it's storming now, so I'll say goodnight.  I think I might be getting a touch of the flu that's been running around my house this week, but I still hope to get some stitching in. 

Blessings!